In the ancient Vedas, several ways of obtaining knowledge are indicated: pratyaksha, anumana, shabda. Pratyaksha (from Sanskrit. «aksha» — eye) — is the path of empirical knowledge, the path of experience. It is believed that a person becomes knowledgeable if he gains his own life experience. However, this path is considered imperfect, since with the help of limited and conditioned feelings (relative) it is impossible to obtain an absolute idea of the object.
Anumana (from Sanskrit. «manas» — mind) — is the path of logical proof, the path of reflection. However, this path is also considered imperfect, since logic is correct only within the framework of the rules and conditions adopted by it. Shabda (sound) — is the path of authoritative knowledge, the path of humble attention to the Truth. The concept of shabda is used in context with the concepts of «apaurusheya» (inhuman, divine) and «brahma» (spiritual). The Vedas descend as a divine revelation to everyone who longs to hear the Truth — through the Scriptures (shastras), through the Teacher (gurus), through other people (sadhus).
The tradition of celebrating Shat-tila Ekadashi also refers to the path of shabda, which is expressed in the fact that the holy king of Dalbya Rishi asks the sage Pulastya Muni about the path of liberation from sins. The sage, who comprehended the Truth from the Scriptures, the instructions of his Teacher and other holy and righteous people, told the king about the holiday of Shat-tila Ekadashi.
A person who strives for liberation from imperfection should pray to Lord Janardana, the patron saint of all living beings: «O, Lord Sri Krishna, You — are the most merciful Personality of God and the liberator of all fallen souls. Lord, we have fallen into the ocean of material existence. Please be merciful to us. O Lotus-eyed Lord, please accept our humblest and most respectful bows. Patron of the world, we offer our respects again and again. O Supreme Spirit, O Most High, O progenitor of all our ancestors, we ask You and Your eternal wife, Srimati Lakshmi-devi, to favorably accept this humble offering».
The person must then try to please the qualified Brahmin priest by offering him with warm greetings a full vessel of water, an umbrella, a pair of shoes and a dress, asking him for a blessing through which to develop pure love for Krishna. On this day, you also need to bring the priest a full vessel of sesame seeds. Black sesame grains are especially suitable for prescribed worship and fire sacrifices, while white and brown grains are intended as food.
It is believed that whoever donates both of these types of grains to the sacred Shat-tila Ekadashi ascends to the celestial planets, where he will remain for as many thousands of years as the donated seeds would bring if they were sown and they bore fruit. In Shat-tila Ekadashi, a person must bathe in water mixed with sesame grains, apply sesame paste to the body, offer sesame grains in sacrifice, eat sesame grains, distribute sesame grains as alms, and accept a donation in the form of sesame grains. These are the six (shat) ways of using sesame grains (tila) for spiritual purification in this Ekadashi. Therefore, this holiday is called Shat-tila Ekadashi.
Tradition teaches that a person should not observe ekadashi for display, out of greed or with the hope of achieving benefits dishonestly. He simply must selflessly sacrifice sesame seeds, clothing and food according to his capabilities in order to return back to God, to the spiritual world.